An Experimental Investigation of Taylor Couette flow between eccentric cylinders

Abstract

The influences of radius ratio and aspect ratio on eccentric Taylor Couette flow are investigated through torque measurements and flow visualizations. The results showed that eccentricity and radius ratio are stabilizing factors in Taylor Couette flow as critical Reynolds number (ReC) increases with their magnitudes. Both critical Reynolds number ratio (ReC / ReCO) and critical wave number are found to be independent of radius ratio and empirical equations are subsequently proposed. Non-dimensionalized torque (G) and friction (Cf) coefficients also exhibit significant variations between eccentricities as well as radius ratios. Conversely, aspect ratio has negligible effects on the characteristics of eccentric Taylor Couette flow. Flow images are described and analyzed to relate the evolutions of the flow structures to various flow characteristics. Attempts are also made to identify the locations of flow separation and maximum vortex activities from the flow images. Lastly, the end effects on eccentric Taylor Couette flow are briefly discussed.